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Action Cult Classic

Three old friends, one mystery weekend, and a family of killers with a taste for twisted games.

MOTHER'S DAY

If you go down to the woods today.

1980 · 1h 30m · NR · Action / Comedy / Horror / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Two brothers kidnap and brutalize three women for the pleasure of their demented mother.

Quick Answer

What is Mother's Day about?

Mother's Day is a 1980 American action, comedy, horror, and thriller film directed by Charles Kaufman about three women who are kidnapped and brutalized by two brothers for the entertainment of their demented mother.

Programmer's Pick

A pitch-black satire with a side of hixploitation, Mother's Day is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Charles Kaufman’s direction gleefully lampoons self-help culture before unleashing a sadistic family that makes the woods a bad place for city girls. If you like your horror with a sharp, mean streak and a wink, you’re at the right family reunion.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Mother's Day opens with a warped parody of self-help culture before careening into exploitation territory. After a couple is lured into the woods by an unassuming old woman, they fall victim to her two violent, inbred sons. Meanwhile, three college friends—Trina, Abbey, and Jackie—set out on their annual mystery weekend, this year destined for a remote New Jersey forest. The women look forward to camping, storytelling, and rekindling their bond, unaware that they're being stalked by the same family responsible for the earlier attack. The film blends horror and black comedy, playing with genre conventions as the trio's adventure turns into a harrowing ordeal, setting up a collision course between urban outsiders and rural psychopaths.

Details & Specs

Director
Charles Kaufman
Writers
Charles Kaufman, Warren Leight
Release
1980
Runtime
1h 30m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Also Known As
El dia de la madre, Os Herdeiros do Mal, Muttertag, День мамочки, O Dia da Mãe, Dzień matki, Los herederos del mal, Trágico fin de semana 2, マザーズデー, Hronia polla, etoimasou na pethaneis, Dia das Mães Macabro, Mama's lievelingen, Les chouchoux de maman

Why This Matters

Noted for its controversial content and genre-blending approach, this film drew bans and critical backlash upon release, but later attracted a cult following and scholarly attention for its subtext on consumerism and television, eventually inspiring a loose 2010 remake.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Charles Kaufman Writers: Charles Kaufman +1 more

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Why Cult

Hixploitation Satire

The film gleefully skewers both rural horror and pop psychology with its twisted family and parody of self-help seminars.

Psychopathic Family

A mother and her two inbred sons serve up a uniquely sadistic brand of terror, making for a memorably deranged antagonist trio.

Female Friendship in Peril

Three women’s annual getaway becomes a fight for survival, placing the bonds of friendship under extreme pressure.

Genre Blending

Mother's Day mashes up action, comedy, horror, and thriller elements, balancing gruesome violence with satirical black humor.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Offered a ride by an old woman

Threat

Sadistic family of killers

Effect

Kidnapping, assault, and murder of victims

Setting

Remote woods in New Jersey

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Mother's Day? +

Mother's Day was directed by Charles Kaufman.

How long is Mother's Day? +

Mother's Day has a runtime of 90 minutes.

What genre is Mother's Day? +

Mother's Day is an action, comedy, horror, and thriller film.

Where can I watch Mother's Day? +

You can watch Mother's Day on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips